Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie has issued the following statement about the Trump administration's announcement today that it will terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects eligible young immigrants from deportation:
"Indiana University is deeply disappointed in the Trump administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, especially in light of the administration's prior statements expressing support for young people protected by DACA and the strong bipartisan support that exists nationwide for maintaining the program.
"We thank House Speaker Paul Ryan and other important national leaders who have expressed their support for DACA immigrants, and we join those individuals and organizations that urge swift, fair and compassionate congressional action in the next six months to codify the provisions of the DACA policy into law and remove any question of uncertainty for the roughly 800,000 beneficiaries enrolled in the program. During this time, we will work vigorously with our state's congressional delegation and others to enact a thoughtful policy that will meet the needs of IU's DACA students and our state.
"We also want to assure all DACA students that we remain fully committed to ensuring a welcoming, safe and civil community for all IU students. As outlined on our DACA @ IU website, IU can and will take several steps to continue supporting all IU students, regardless of personal characteristics or documentation, that are within the bounds of the federal and state laws that bind us as a public institution. The administration's latest announcement also leaves many questions unanswered, and we will make every effort to better understand the decision and how we can continue to help our students.
"Our university will not waver in its longstanding commitment to the diverse and inclusive environment that is vital to an excellent education.
"We believe that all of our students, regardless of their background or country of origin, bring to our campuses unique perspectives and experiences that enrich our living and learning communities. In doing so, they reflect who we are — and what we strive to be — as a university that provides all students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and succeed in a place where they feel valued, respected and at home.
"Since the inception of DACA in 2012, IU has seen the many benefits of this program. As they pursue educational opportunities across a wide variety of disciplines, DACA beneficiaries make a substantial positive impact on our campuses and in the Indiana communities they call home. As these bright, talented and high-achieving students and alumni work and study here, they contribute greatly toward strengthening the civic, cultural, social and economic fabric of our state.
"Ending the DACA program will undermine IU's ability to educate our students to prepare them for a lifetime of informed and active global citizenship. Nevertheless, we remain strongly committed to creating a supportive and welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds and from all parts of the globe."